2017 - Tour Down Under: Day 11: Fri 13 Jan

Overcast, rainy and cool
Walk: 4km

We awoke very early due to a very gusty wind and were afraid the awning would be ripped off the van. We both got up to pull it in and not long after, Gunther was also up doing the same thing. We made a plan to leave (by vehicle) between 9 and 9:30am and were on the road by 9:15am, heading for the Wolf Blass Visitor Centre to partake in the wine tasting experience. However, the Centre did not open until 10:30am (Greg had obviously found some out of date information, saying it opened at 9:30am). Anyway, none of us were particularly interested in wine tasting so early in the morning, so off to Angaston it was for mornos. Here we had to use our umbrellas due to very rare rain for this time of the year. We found a lovely bakery/cafe - D&Ms Bakery and Cafe which boasted the best vanilla slice in the Valley. That sold it for Gunther and in we went. The slices were pretty good, but apparently not as good as those sold in the Biggenden Bakery (rated by Gunther at 9/10), these ones rated at 8/10. The coffee was also very good.

With food and coffee in the tummy, it was off to Yalumba, which is an old winery with many old buildings and lots to see, including more rain. We spent about 20 minutes in the Cooperage - for those uneducated people, a Cooperage is where they make the barrels. Unfortunately, the number of wines on offer for tasting was a little limited for Wendy's palate (she was the only one tasting at this stage), so we left without a purchase. Next up was the Barossa Sculpture Park which on a good day is quite speccy. However, today there was a heavy fog blanketing the area which made viewing and photographing the sculptures difficult, not to mention the view which is normally fantastic. Just as we were about to leave, the fog cleared for a few seconds and we were able to see fragments of the view.

Chateau Tanunda was the next venue. Wendy was trying to think why this brand rang bells; she eventually worked it out when she entered the venue - they make brandy under the brand "Chateau Tanunda". Again, this was more of a photographic venue rather than a wine tasting one. Wendy tried a few samples including a dessert wine which was quite nice, but very sweet. It was then time for lunch and this was had after visiting the Visitor Information Centre at Tanunda. The rain just kept coming. After the rather large morning tea, we all agreed that we needed a light lunch of nice salad sandwiches/rolls. A bakery specializing in German food was found and we all left feeling very satiated. It was still raining though which made for a very dull day.

We then did Jacobs Creek winery where Wendy tasted about five wines before deciding on a Cool Harvest Sav Blanc. Still raining/drizzling. On a good day, you could spend at least 30 minutes walking around outside at Jacobs Creek learning stuff about the different grape varieties, however today was not one of those days. It was onwards to Maggie Beer's Farm, but we got redirected to Seppeltsfield Winery; another older winery in the area. Things have changed since we were here last and everything looked new, including the cellar tasting area and a very fancy eatery. There were no wines or ports that interested anyone here and after a tour of the Jam Factory; not jam, but a workshop for all different arts and trades people such as leather goods, knife maker, glass blower, etc. Nothing of interest to anyone here so we moved onto Maggie's Farm.

It was still raining when we got there so we had a quick look at the wild pheasant pens and then it quickly inside where there was a large number of products on display and available for tasting. Wendy bought a pate whilst Greg went for an ice-cream. We saw the kitchen where the cooking series "The Cook and the Chef" was filmed. We just missed a cooking demo by Maggie herself on how to use verjuice and vincotto in cooking. Oh well, next time maybe.

Finally, it was back to where it all started this morning - Wolf Blass. Both Wendy and Yvonne tasted a few of the whites and a port. Wendy ended up with a Sav Blanc and Yvonne took home a bottle of tawny port. We were home by 3:30pm, just in time to have a snooze.

Pre-dinner drinks were had sitting in the sun with our backs to the very cold wind. Eventually at 7:50pm we decide we had better adjourn for dinner. We watched the cricket as we ate our salmon and pork chop and were in bed before 10pm. Another great day on the road completed.